Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 82: Ted DiBiase vs. Ric Flair (11/6/85)

The most famous Mid South angle and turn and here it is. This link below will get you caught up on the details leading up to the match and the match itself, but it also ties in the rise of Butch Reed and the position of Dick Murdoch, so it’s relevant to this whole disk.

Flair, Dibiase, & Murdoch Angle background from Kayfabe Memories

This is THE angle in Mid South, turning long time main event heel Ted Dibiase face. It also shows once again the broad sweeping influence and affects Flair had on wrestling in the 1980s. Not only did he rule the majorly popular Mid Atlantic territory, but he was a major guest star in the Mid South and World Class regions, and affected several others. Finally, Dick Murdoch plays a big part in this match and angle, which we’ll include in the entire match score. Murdoch is always a few votes away from getting the honor he deserves, induction into the WON Hall of Fame. Murdoch rules, and if you can find any Murdoch matches, watch them.

We start off at the broadcasters table. Jim Ross and Joel Watts welcome Ric Flair. Butch Reed is out. Something to do with Dick Slater. Ted Dibiase is in (it’s in the link above). Dick Murdoch is out to confront Flair. He says Flair called NWA Pres. Bob Giegel and picked his opponent. He wants the shot, but Flair tells him to call Kansas City (NWA Home Office) and leave him alone.

Flair and Dibiase are announced. Dibiase actually gets some cheers, I’m guessing because he’s “our bad guy” to the Mid South fans who watched Dibiase grow up in the territory over the last decade.

Murdoch comes out again, this time appealing to Ted Dibiase to give up his shot to him. He says he got “Teddy” into college and started in wrestling, and says it should be his shot (he was champion until a month back). Ted Dibiase begins to strongly rebuff him, and gets punched right in the face by Murdoch. Just an awesome punch from the frustrated vet.

Flair is just watching in the background as these two go toe-to-toe., but when Dibiase sends Murdoch out of the ring Flair comes from behind with a knee to Dibiase’s back. The knee knocks Dibiase through the ropes to the floor, and Murdoch wastes no time in sending Dibiase into the ring post. Great commitment from Dibiase, who makes the shot look good, and also blades like crazy. Blood is everywhere. Murdoch leaves after a boot to Dibiase, and Flair is left to comment on mic from the ring. Flair says he’s going home since there won’t be a match, and Dr. Death Steve Williams helps his friend on the floor.

Coming out of commercial Bill Watts is backstage and sells the angle perfectly. Dibiase is cut bad and they are having trouble stopping the bleeding. Watts says there will be a match because Dibiase has waited a lifetime for the title shot and won’t let it slip through his grasp now. Watts adds his own experiences and draws a parallel to Roberto Duran quitting in a world title boxing match. When we come back it’s a World Title match, no stopping for blood, and Watts is giving it the rub.

Boyd Pierce announces to the crowd and TV cameras there will be a match. “Teddy” chant goes up as he walks out all bandaged up. The minute he gets in the ring Ric Flair attacks him with chops that are sold perfectly, and one of my dream matches begins.

Flair sends him to the floor and follows. More stiff chops. Back in the ring. Dibiase makes a comeback with a back body drop. A lot of good movement. Elbow from Dibiase off the ropes. His signature falling fist. Ross is already selling this as classic 45 seconds in. Well, JR knows great drama.

Flair takes control and the bandage falls off. Belly to back suplex looks great, but Dibiase is bleeding back again. Very loose ring ropes, BTW. People pop for the first pinfall kick out. Very cool. Flair throws him to the outside as Ross puts that over and starts the face-turning commentary. Doc is at ringside now to check on Dibiase, who Flair is beating pretty badly. Dibiase fights his way out. He sends Flair to the buckle and Flair does his flip. Suplex back in. Match is exciting, but not on fire. Crowd isn’t as excited as the announcer’s selling it. Great TV though.

Dibiase keeps finding a way to come back, but slows from blood loss. He’s definitely ceasing his moment. Dibiase unloads on Flair and Flair does the Flair flop. Ref checks the cut, but Dibiase won’t quit. Awesome elbow from Flair, but again Dibiase will not be denied. I’m reminded for the first time that Flair on the top rope for the crossbody he never gets to hit is technically illegal. No matter, Dibiase sends him off. Then a powerslam, but Dibiase plays it like he isn’t with it enough to cover. If you had more time that would be a great story.

Knee Breaker. Spinning toe hold into the figure four. Flair makes the ropes. He’s hanging on, but Dibiase pulls Flair off by his boots. Figure Four again? No, Flair kicks him off hard and Dibiase takes a great over the top rope bum to the floor, making sure to hit the guard rail as he falls down. He’s out on the floor, and a larger “Teddy” chant than before goes up from the crowd. Still, they aren’t captivated, as I’ve seen this studio hotter on this set. Flair pulls himself up by the ring ropes as Dibiase is out on the floor. Ref counts to ten. Flair wins via countout, essentially because of the blood loss caused by Murdoch.

It’s a great angle and exciting match, but much like the famed “cage door” Christmas Day match in 1982 that Flair is also famous for, this match is good. Not great. It’s an angle that once seen on TV popped the territory both creatively and financially. It’s executed well, but the match itself is only 7 minutes long. It was very good though, and I’d love to see an angle free house show match with these two.

Post match angle continuation. Announcers root for Dibiase and really put him over, even in losing. Dick Murdoch is out again, and he’s decided to beat up Dibiase more. He gives him a brainbuster on the concrete, and takes out two refs while he’s at it. All the heat is on Murdoch now. Commercial.
Final segments are the serious footage of wrestlers carrying Dibiase out. Joel Watts does the voice over. Doc vs Jake match is canceled. Bill Watts and Grizzly Smith will fine and suspend Murdoch. They show EMTs backstage with Dibiase on oxygen and being put in an ambulance. I can’t believe these carnies lied to the local medical community. Very perverse if you think about it. JR solemnly sends us home for the week.

Again, everyone should have to watch this episode of TV if you love wrestling and wrestling history. The match itself is good, and more compelling than most, but the legend of the match, the commentary, and the smooth work of Dibiase/Flair hide the fact this is seven minutes and a countout win. Not a negative, just some perspective. I’ll score this one higher for what it accomplished, all things considered, and how good they work itself was.

It is very possible to make an argument that they could have done far less in the ring and it should be rated much higher. You can argue it should be ranked right next to the famous stips match w/ Dibiase and Duggan. After all, its purpose was the tell a story. It did that better than most in less time. Its focus was to move the story and majorly change the dynamic of three performers. Done. It was also designed to get a reaction out of the crowd and draw money, and it succeeded, though perhaps initially not as huge as the legend makes it seem. By that criterion it was a home run. However, I am scoring with a heavy emphasis on match quality and the art of the work, and while this is good, it is not as good as much of the other work on the set. 3 stars and 6.5/10.

Match Discussion Here